Video Production Articles, Tips and Tutorials

Creating Film Burn in After Effects

17th November 2023 |

How to Add a Film Burn Overlay | Video Tutorials | Free Overlays | Handy Templates What are film burns (light leaks)? Film burns and light leaks are visual artifacts that originated from the analog film era. These effects were unintended and often considered flaws, but in the digital age, they have become popular as creative elements in filmmaking and photography to add a vintage or nostalgic look. Here’s a brief description of each: Film Burns: A film burn is a sudden change in brightness or color saturation that occurs during the exposure of film. It is often characterized by a burst of light that washes out the image temporarily, creating a warm or reddish tone. Film burns can occur due to various factors, including light leaks in the camera, improper film winding, or exposure to unexpected light sources. In modern filmmaking, these effects are often simulated to evoke a… read more

Creating a VHS Effect using Adobe After Effects

16th November 2023 |

Simon Brough|

Using After Effects to create the VHS effect Text Guide | Video Tutorials | Free Overlays | Handy Templates The VHS look refers to the distinctive visual characteristics associated with video recordings on VHS (Video Home System) tapes, a popular consumer video format during the late 20th century. This aesthetic has experienced a resurgence in recent years, as filmmakers, photographers, and digital artists intentionally emulate the nostalgic and gritty qualities of VHS footage. The VHS look is characterized by its low resolution, analog artifacts, color bleed, and a unique texture that results from the limitations of the VHS format. One of the most recognizable aspects of the VHS look is the visible scan lines that run across the screen, giving the footage a retro and dated appearance. The color palette often exhibits a warm and slightly faded tone, with noticeable distortions in color accuracy. Additionally, VHS recordings are prone to… read more

Creating a double exposure in Photoshop

13th November 2023 |

Simon Brough|

Tutorial

What is double exposure? Double exposure is a photographic technique that involves exposing a single frame of film or digital sensor to multiple images. Traditionally achieved by taking two separate photographs on the same frame, this technique results in a merged image where the elements from both exposures coexist in a single frame. This effect can be achieved easily through post-processing software, allowing photographers greater control and flexibility in creating surreal and dreamlike images. What’s the double-exposure effect used for? The double exposure style is versatile and can be employed for various artistic and expressive purposes. Here are some of its notable applications: Artistic Expression: Double exposure allows artists and photographers to create visually striking and surreal images that go beyond the boundaries of traditional photography. It provides a unique way to blend two separate visual elements into a single frame, resulting in a composition that is often dreamlike, abstract,… read more

Creating a Glitch Effect Logo Animation in After Effects

8th November 2023 |

Simon Brough|

If you want to add digital glitch effects to your text or logo then After Effects is the perfect place to do it. As a video manipulation program, creating digital distortions comes easy, and there are plenty of different techniques to choose from – all using After Effects’ built-in effects. Quick Links: Tutorial Text | Instant Glitch Overlays | More Glitch Tutorials In this video tutorial Avnish Parker shows how to add the glitch effect using a displacement map. Full, step-by-step text instructions can also be found below the video. Step 1: Setting Up the Composition Step 2: Create the Background Step 3: Logo Animation Step 4: Creating a Glitch Effect Step 5: Adding Displacement Step 6: Create Multiple Glitches Step 7: Add an Old TV Effect Step 8: Create RGB Split Effect (Optional) Step 9: Add Secondary Text Step 10: Create a Vignette Your glitch logo animation is complete!… read more

How to make a dynamic text box in After Effects

2nd November 2023 |

Simon Brough|

In this After Effects tutorial, we create a responsive box behind text using just the text layer itself. No shape layers are needed. Perfect for quick and easy social media caption overlays. Step 1: Add a Fill effect Add a Generate > Fill effect and choose your box color. Step 2: Add a Shift Channels effect Add a Channel > Shift Channels effect. Change ‘Take Alpha From’ to ‘Full On’. Step 3: Add a CC RepeTile effect Add a Stylize > CC RepeTile effect. Change all values to 40. This is the padding of your box so feel free to increase these values. Step 4: Add a CC Composite effect Add a Channel > CC Composite effect. This will make your original text visible again. Step 5: Add 2 Simple Choker effects For rounded corners add two Matte > Simple Choker effects. Use values of 15, and negative 15. These… read more

Creating 3D Text in After Effects

25th October 2023 |

Simon Brough|

Creating 3D Text in After Effects – No Plugins In this article we’ll look at creating 3D text inside After Effects using a variety of techniques and approaches. Text Guide | Video Tutorials | Editable Templates Creating extruded 3D text in After Effects involves using its built-in 3D capabilities and may require some knowledge of the software. Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you achieve this without the need for any third-party plugins. Step 1: Create a New Composition Open Adobe After Effects on your computer and create a new composition by clicking on Composition > New Composition. Under Basic, set your preferred composition settings, including resolution, duration, and frame rate. Before you close this dialogue box, under 3D Renderer, choose Cinema 4D. This will enable 3D extrusions and environments. Step 2: Create a 3D Text Layer Click on the “T” icon in the toolbar to create a text layer…. read more